“We’re all working-”
“Bull,” she snapped. “It was her kind that dragged me out of my house and dragged me back when I escaped. Don’t you tell me we’re on the same side.”
“Who were you brought to?” Lucidia asked calmly.
Lola glared at her for a moment before answering. “House Ambrose.”
Lucidia’s eyebrows raised and she nodded in understanding. “That’s a rough one.”
Ambrose was led by Fausta Ambrose, a ruthless, sadistic master (or mistress, although the vampire preferred the former title). Lucidia had met her before, and Fausta was as mean as they came. She was also as power hungry as the rest of them. Lucidia had often thought that if Fausta hadn’t had become a master, she would have gone into human politics and become the next Hitler.
Lola watched her with keen, cautious eyes. Lucidia continued. “Fausta’s crazy. I understand why you’re so paranoid.”
“Don’t try to get on my side.”
“Full disclosure, I don’t give a rat’s ass about you or your opinions. I’m not here to talk to you.”
“Why are you here?” the boy interjected.
“I need to get into House Demonte.”
They scowled. “We smuggle people out.”
“Yeah – I got that. But I need to go the other way.”
“We’ve never tried it. It would take planning, and care,” Lola threw back. “It could jeopardize the lives of people who risk their wellbeing to help us.”
“I understand. But all the same, I’d appreciate help. If someone goes through from one way, it’s at least a hair easier to slip in unnoticed. What route do your smugglers take?”
“If I tell you that, then you could get caught, and the route discovered,” Lola growled.
The boy let out a huff of air. “I asked a question. It’s important. Is this Robin girl the one that the witches are talking about?”
“How should I know?” Lucidia snapped, raising her hands in frustration. “You’re the one with magic eavesdropping.”
“Does she have birthmarks?” the boy asked.
Lucidia froze, her eyebrows creeping together. “Yes.”
This seemed to upset the sorcerer, who acted significantly older than he appeared, Lucidia realized.
“We need to help her,” the boy said, turning to Lola. “I don’t know what they have planned, but they’ve been talking about an attack on the vampires for a while, and they’ve only just started whispering about the girl.”
“The witches are planning an attack on the vampires?”
“About time,” Lola hissed.
Anger welled up inside Lucidia. “Do you know a thing about supernatural history? The last time the witches attacked the vampires en masse, they did it by trapping everybody inside of the castles and turning every single human’s blood to acid during a ceremonial feast. It only killed a couple hundred vampires across the board, but cost thousands of human lives. If you think the casters are ever up to any good, think again.”
Lola quieted, her lips pressing into a thin line.
“You’ll get whatever help you need,” the boy assured her. “Smugglers, weapons, anything we can give you. Magnus getting a hold of Robin is something they’re looking forward to, and it sounds like the start of whatever they’ve got planned.”
Lucidia nodded. “Thank you. Truly. I won’t fail.” She stood up and began forming a plan and gathering supplies.
Robin
She listened to the roaring ocean. The clouds had thickened here, the air slightly cooler than the blistering valley land, leaving the whole area in a bright white overcast.
Willow and Dag had already boarded the ship, which looked like a small, personal sailboat, not that she knew anything about sailing. Actually, she’d never even stepped foot on a sailboat. It had blue and green trim that made sharp designs against the otherwise pristine white. A single triangular sail shot upward, pure white and glistening in the sun. The body of the boat was heftier, and had a downstairs cabin, along with a decently sized steering wheel. On the back, curly lettering claimed it as The Marianna. Robin wondered distantly who she’d been, or who she was. Honestly, she didn’t even know who the boat belonged to.
Reykon came up beside her, toting two heavy looking duffels.
She held her hand as a visor on her forehead and gave him a crinkly smile. “Need any help?”
He smiled, though it looked like he was putting on a good face for her. “No. I got it.”
Robin nodded and turned to the long dock that stood between where she was and where the boat sat. Now that they were here, at the marina, everything had become so real and her carefully fashioned, blissful denial of what lay ahead began to chip. “You know, I’ve been trying to make my legs move for five minutes now?” she admitted, a nervous laugh slipping out.
Reykon’s smile faded, and he nodded, his expression one of complete understanding. “We’ll go together,” he said softly, shifting one bag onto his shoulder and then taking the other one, freeing up his hand. He outstretched it for her.
Robin swallowed hard and took a deep breath, before winding her hand in his. They began moving, walking closer and closer to the boat.
His hand, his presence, had helped her. She looked at the water as they walked, memorizing its color, the way the filtered sunlight sparkled on it.
Memorizing the way he smelled next to her, the way his hand felt clutched in hers. Little snapshots that she could look back on when she needed them. And she had a feeling she would need them.
“You know something?” she asked with a slight smile.
“What?”
“I’ve never been on a sailboat.”
“No,” he gasped, taken aback.
She laughed and shrugged. “Guess there’s a first time for everything.”
“How about I teach you, Madame Captain?” he said with a smile.
“I’d like that, deckhand.”
Reykon raised an eyebrow and truly smiled now, that same carefree, crooked grin she’d seen him make the first night they’d met. “Ouch,” he said, his dark eyes glinting.
She squeezed his hand harder, wrapping her other hand around the inside of his elbow, and pulling him closer.
Lucidia
They loaded up her vehicle, in a dilapidated garage section of the warehouse. There were a few run-down cars here,
